Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

AN: Two updates in under 24 hours again? Why yes. The perks of writing flash-fics and having faithful reviewers. :D

Chapter 7: You Dare Look Upon the Host of Souls?! I Shall Devour You WHOLE! (word count: 832)

A summons had come from the Tsuchikage. The war had reached a stalemate and old man Ohnoki wanted his reserve weapon within easy reach. Gaara had decided to delay his departure by a fortnight, the greatest amount of time he could afford to give his lover and his former mentors - all become close, treasured friends.

In this one instance, he should have worried less about their sadness at the unexpected separation and more at having broken one of the most important shinobi guidelines: if your health allows it, don't let the enemy flee to regroup.

The Jashinists' reprisal, when it came, was harsh and swift. Under the faint light of the waning moon they crept like shades, covering the old wooden walls in explosive tags and dousing each of the shrine's rooms in oil. With silent steps they rushed through the sleeping quarters, nine dark robed cultists setting upon the slumbering priestesses like hateful wraiths.

Through the open windows the crescent's faltering rays hit their backs and created cruel shadows to mimic each vicious deed. Nine ritual daggers thrust into liver, heart or neck and nine more shadows mirrored the violent acts, illusory blood spraying from the figures to mingle with the very real essence splashed on the varnish. From room to room the Jashinists flitted like hungering nightmares and leading their procession was the usually dour head priest, his eyes lit with an inner flame and mouth stretched in a manic grin.

At last, they entered the shrine's reliquary where Gaara was meditating, Kokuo's purified chakra working to enforce the guardian spirits' will.

Before the miko could react, the head priest lashed out with a barrage of tainted sutras which stuck to the girl's clothes, sealing her chakra and rendering her immobile. Gaara's eyes flashed blue as he turned his focus to the intruders.

'I will tell you once. LEAVE.' he ordered, the Bijuu's angry voice trailing his own in an eerie echo.

The priest's answer was to backhand the kneeling girl, sending her paralyzed body into the altar and knocking down the holy offering, to the laughter of the other cultists.

To Gaara's enhanced awareness, the air gained a sudden heaviness and the guardians' faint, sorrowful whispers stilled, the spirits seemingly focused on the living with a sense of hungry expectancy.

Drunk on the feeling of imminent success, the followers began desecrating the shrine. Meanwhile, the head priest chanted strange prayers while placing Gaara's limp body in the center of a carefully drawn symbol.

Urns broke and scented sticks scattered. Unlike the ignorant cultists, Gaara could sense the shrine's protections unraveling with every foul act and the seven unstable guardians sinking deeper into their madness. His heart beat madly and Kokuo paced inside his cage in anger.

The shrine's prized relic was smashed against the wall and the final leash snapped. The spirits gleefully embraced their dark urges, morphing into ravenous gaki which set upon the unsuspecting Jashinists.


Crawling across the newly mangled corpses, four of the vengeful spirits latched onto Gaara's frozen body and, using their hands to find purchase in the miko's clothing, draped themselves over his body like heavy, bloodied vines.

'Such alluring chakra...' they'd whisper in his ear. 'Give us a taste!' '...just one taste.' He could hardly breathe, so heavy was the air with the sickly smell of freshly spilled blood.

They had huddled among the scattered remains. Crunches and slurps came from the bloody pile and the spirits sighed and moaned in delight. The other three spirits hadn't moved from the grizzly feast but frequently paused in their feeding frenzy to grace him with wild, gory grins.

'You and your demon…' 'So fresh… and yet so anguished, your souls…' 'They call to us!' the spirits crooned, running shadowy claws over Gaara's shoulders. 'Let us in…' 'Let us feast on your flesh.'

Molding their ghostly bodies to the miko's smaller frame, the deranged gaki gasped and groaned in excitement. They nipped at Gaara's skin and pierced his soft flesh with their sharp teeth, leaving rivulets of blood to run from the wounds and painting Gaara's white haori a vibrant, dangerous red. Wrestling with the paralyzing effect of the Jashinist's sutras, Gaara could only listen in dread as they whispered harshly 'Join us' '...join us in undeath.'

Sensing his refusal by a sudden swell of power in the cloak of chakra that lashed and tore at their figures, the spirits hoarse voices took on a more menacing tone 'This young body, you already share it with a demon…' 'If you will not join us in undeath' '...we will join you.'

At their ominous decree Gaara renewed his struggles with a fervor born from desperation. He could feel the seals weakening but the crazed spirits would not be denied. As one, the seven gaki allowed their essence to dissipate and sink into the miko's skin.

Gaara's mouth opened in a terrible, soundless scream.